Suit Charges That 7 Hurled Racial Slurs And Beat Motorist

A black man sued seven white men in federal court Monday, charging that he was beaten with a tire iron two years ago in a mainly white neighborhood on the Southwest Side because of his race.

Leonarge Bryant charged in his suit filed in U.S. District Court that the men beat him when he stopped on Aug. 20, 1987, at 62d Street and Kedzie Avenue so his wife, Idel, could go to a bank and a store.

The suit charges that Matthew Murphy, David Franklin and Timothy Kucharski were riding by in a car when they saw Bryant as he waited for his wife.

The three men hurled racial slurs at Bryant, the suit charges. Bryant left his car and a fight ensued, the suit says.

Four other white men joined the fray and began beating Bryant, the suit says, until he was rescued by a passing CTA bus driver.

The four other men were identified in the suit as Ronald Horrell, Robert Horrell, Kevin Kromey and Vester Nall.

Bryant suffered head injuries and his car was also damaged by the men, the suit charges. The suit seeks unspecified actual and punitive damages.